Advocates hope for repeal of Montana anti-gay law

HELENA — Montana lawmakers are considering a proposal to repeal an obsolete state law that criminalized gay sex before it was struck down by the courts in the 1990s.

Two years ago, a similar proposal to repeal the law cleared the Senate only to die in the more conservative House.

But since then, the Montana Republican Party has removed from its platform the position that the GOP seeks to make homosexual acts illegal. The party remains opposed to gay marriage.

More than a dozen advocates told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday that it is time to remove a law from the books that is hurtful.

There were two opponents to the bill. Dallas Erickson of Montana Citizens for Decency Through Law argues that the courts got the decision wrong.